Modeling Urban Thermal Discomfort in Rio de Janeiro’s Suburbs

Cities in the Global South, such as Rio de Janeiro, have undergone segregated urbanization, resulting in suburban areas with deficient infrastructure. This not even development has created microclimatic disparities that disproportionately affect suburban residents, exacerbating social and environmental inequalities. Limited access to cooling resources, such as tree cover and ventilation corridors, further intensifies thermal stress. 

This study models potential outdoor thermal discomfort zones in Rio’s suburbs using the Urban Climatic Maps (UC-Maps) methodology. The analysis identifies key urban geometry elements contributing to thermal stress across land-use categories.

The Urban Climatic Analytical Map (UC-AnMap) reveals that over 50% of the studied area experiences thermal discomfort (Classes 3-7), primarily due to Thermal Load accumulation. Large structures such as shopping malls, factories, and warehouses intensify heat retention, contrasting with the smaller-scale construction typical of Rio’s suburbs. Moreover, green infrastructure is not abundant and is mainly restricted to hilltops and private properties.

These results highlight how Rio de Janeiro's urban expansion has made outdoor environments uncomfortable for daily activities, particularly for vulnerable groups such as street vendors, who rely on public spaces for their livelihoods. Without intervention, these challenges will likely worsen with climate change. This study emphasizes the need for urban planning to mitigate thermal discomfort in marginalized suburban areas.